Mosque wants barriers after another car crash

A mosque in east London is calling on the council to install steel bollards or barriers outside the building after a car crashed into it earlier this week.

The crash on Barking Road in Plaistow, outside the Masjid Ibrahim and Islamic Centre, saw a car spin and smash into a wall and gate, after hitting a parked car.

Zulfiqar Ahmed, a volunteer who was inside the centre at the time of the crash, said it was the fourth time a car crash had happened within the vicinity of the building since 2010, with two of those causing serious damage to the mosque.

Newham Council said it was "rolling out a 20mph speed limit across the borough".

Monday’s crash caused some of the sliding gates outside the mosque to fall off, while a wall has also been damaged.

A man was rushed to hospital for treatment before being discharged and was arrested on suspicion of driving offences.

Mr Ahmed, along with the mosque, believes steel bollards would help to prevent future crashes and before "something fatal happens".

He said: “To avoid a fatal accident, we need to push much harder with the local authority - they need to install safety barriers or steel bollards in front of the mosque, which is located on a bend."

“Late at night or early in the morning people drive very fast and they lose control at the bend, either they’re intoxicated or drive recklessly," he added.

"Our concern is we need to push the council a bit more to put something there before something really fatal happens.”

A spokesperson for Newham Council said: “In response to residents’ concerns, Newham Council is rolling out a 20mph speed limit across the borough as part of broader measures like Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and Healthy School Streets.

"These initiatives aim to improve safety and encourage walking and cycling by reducing speeds on our roads.

“The Met Police is currently investigating the recent collision, and it is also their role to enforce speed limits."

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